This is a weekend as far from routine as you can get! It’s four fascinating days in the outback you’ll talk about forever. Arrive on Friday afternoon and check in at the 4-star pioneer-inspired The Staging Post accommodation in the heritage heart of Longreach. You’ll be immersed in the real Australian outback with experiences including a day in Winton following in the footsteps of Banjo Paterson, a cruise at sunset on the Thomson river, a stockman’s campfire dinner, and a ride through the bush on a Cobb and Co stagecoach. You’ll see planes that pioneered the skies and dinosaurs that roamed this prehistoric land. The sunsets are spectacular and the nights have more stars than you can imagine.

DAY 1: FRIDAY
Arrive at the airport on the early afternoon flight and we’ll pick you up or, if you drive in, come to The Welcome Home after 3pm to check in at The Staging Post accommodation. A VIP gift will be waiting for you in your room. There’s time to take a stroll around town and refresh before your Stonegrill Dining Experience at 6pm at the historic The Welcome Home, just a few steps away from your accommodation. [D]

DAY 2: SATURDAY
It’s an early start with a 5.30am buffet breakfast before boarding the coach to Winton at 6.15am. Enjoy the outback scenery and your driver’s commentary before arriving at the awarding-winning Australian Age of Dinosaurs museum with its spectacular Dinosaur Canyon display. [B,MT,L,D] Smoko is followed by an hour to explore the quintessential outback town of Winton. Lunch is at the North Gregory Hotel made famous by Banjo Paterson and then visit the architecturally-acclaimed Waltzing Matilda Centre to learn more about our national song. Arrive back in Longreach around 4.15pm ready for the Starlight’s Cruise Experience at sunset on the Thomson river. Your evening includes a stockman’s campfire dinner under the stars, bush entertainment and the Starlight’s Spectacular Sound & Light Picture Show. Transfer back to your accommodation at 8.30pm. [B,MT,L,D]

DAY 3: SUNDAY
After an action-packed Saturday, you’ll be glad of the slightly gentler pace on Sunday. Have a breakfast basket in your room followed by transfer to the Qantas Founders Museum at 10am. There’s plenty of time to absorb the stories and see the iconic planes before lunch in the cafe there at 1pm. At 2.30pm, you’ll transfer to the famous Australian Stockman’s Hall of Fame and then back to your accommodation at 4pm. Dinner is at a local restaurant at 6pm. [B,L,D]

DAY 4: MONDAY
You can’t leave Longreach without doing the Cobb & Co Stagecoach Experience, so after buffet breakfast and an 8am checkout, be ready for your ride back into the pioneer past at 8.30am. The experience includes smoko, a classic film and the Old Time Tent Show with a billy-can lunch. You will just have time to pop into The Station Store for last minute gifts before transferring back to the airport at 1.15pm. [B,MT,L]